1. United States
2. Kan.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge your support for Senate Bill 507, introduced by Senator Cindy Holscher on February 12, 2026. This legislation would prohibit federal immigration enforcement within 400 feet of polling places and ballot processing locations, protecting Kansas voters from intimidation while exercising their constitutional right to vote. The need for this protection is not theoretical. As Senator Holscher noted when introducing the bill, ICE agents have been caught repeatedly intimidating and even detaining legal U.S. citizens simply for expressing their viewpoints. No Kansas voter should fear harassment based on their race, ethnicity, or political views when participating in our democracy. The 400-foot buffer zone created by SB 507 would ensure that all eligible voters can cast their ballots without federal agents creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation at polling place entrances. The bill extends these same protections to locations where election officials conduct canvassing, auditing, and recounting of ballots. This is essential for maintaining the integrity of our election process and ensuring that election workers can perform their duties without interference. By amending four existing Kansas election statutes, SB 507 creates clear legal boundaries with meaningful enforcement, including penalties of up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine for violators. Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy, and every eligible Kansas citizen must be able to participate without intimidation. Federal immigration enforcement serves legitimate purposes, but those activities have no place near polling locations where they inevitably create a chilling effect on voter participation. SB 507 strikes the right balance by establishing a reasonable buffer zone that protects voters while allowing federal authorities to conduct enforcement operations elsewhere. I respectfully ask that you support Senate Bill 507 when it comes before the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs and vote in favor of this important protection for Kansas voters.